Purpose: :
To report the frequency of palpebral malignant tumorsin a 15 year period.

Methods: :
This is a retrospective, transversal, observationaland non–comparative study. All pathology reports fromexcisional biopsies of cases with palpebral malignant tumorsfrom January 1990 to December 2004 were compiled. Files weredivided according to demographic variables such as age and gender.Age distribution was categorized into 5 years intervals. Typeof malignancy was divided according to histologic findings intoepithelial, melanocytic, neural, vascular, lymphoproliferativeor mesenchymatic.

Results: :
One hundred eighty cases were reviewed. Seventy malepatients and one hundred and ten female. The number of biopsiesmade per year during the first five years were 7.6, from 1995to 1999 were 11.6 and from 2000 to 2004 were 19.2. Basal cellcarcinoma represented 69% of all cases: Nodular variety 103cases (83.06%), more frequent in the age group between 76 and80 years old, Morphea 10 cases (8.06%) between 51 and 55 andAdenoid 11 cases (8.88%) between 61 and 65, and 71 and 75. Squamouscell carcinoma 31 cases (17%) between 66 and 70. Sebaceous glandcarcinoma 11 cases (6%) between 56 and 60. Melanoma 10 cases(6%) between 76 and 80. Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma 4 cases (2%)with heterogeneous distribution. Seventy percent of malignantpalpebral tumors were seen between 56 and 80 years old.

Conclusions: :
The most frequent palpebral malignancies in ourseries are similar to the previously described, notwithstandingsebaceous gland carcinoma, melanoma and non–Hodgkin lymphomaoverpass literature reports.